Retainer

ABSTRACT

A retainer ( 10 ) holds elongated members ( 12 ), such as hoses, pipes, wiring, etc, has a first arm ( 30 ) which extends from one side portion ( 24 ) of a base ( 20 ) and a second arm ( 32 ) which extends from another side portion ( 26 ) of the base. The arms ( 30  and  32 ) have end portions ( 46  and  50 ) which are spaced apart from each other when an elongated member ( 12 ) extends through an opening ( 14 ) in the base ( 20 ) and is disposed in engagement with a connector or bottom portion ( 22 ) of the base. At least one of the end portions of one of the arms ( 30  and  32 ) is movable away from the connector portion ( 22 ) of the base ( 20 ), under the influence of force transmitted from the elongated member ( 12 ), to effect engagement of the end portion ( 46 ) of one of the arms ( 30 ) with an opening ( 76 ) formed in the other arm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a retainer for holding one or more elongated members.

A known retainer for holding an elongated member includes a bottom wall with upstanding sidewalls. Plate-like portions extend inwardly and downwardly from the sidewall. The plate-like portions have free ends which engage the elongated member to hold it in a groove or opening. A retainer having this construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,334.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a retainer for holding an elongated member. The retainer includes a first arm which extends from a side portion of a base. A second arm extends from another side portion of the base. When the elongated member extends through an opening in the base and is disposed in engagement with a connector portion of the base, the first and second arms have end portions which are spaced apart from each other. When the elongated member is moved away from the connector portion of the base, force is transmitted from the elongated member to effect engagement of the end portion of the first arm with an opening formed in the end portion of the second arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a retainer constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration depicting the manner in which an elongated member is moved into an opening in a base of the retainer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration depicting the manner in which an opening in one arm of the retainer of FIG. 1 is engaged by another arm upon movement of the elongated member away from a connector portion of the base of the retainer;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic pictorial illustration further depicting the manner in which an end portion of one of the arms engages the opening in the other arm; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration depicting the manner in which a tool may be utilized to effect disengagement of the arms and enable the elongated member to be moved from the opening in the retainer.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A retainer 10, constructed in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated in FIG. 1 prior to movement of an elongated member 12 (FIG. 2) into a main opening 14 in the retainer. The elongated member 12 may be a hose, pipe, conduit, wiring, or other member. Although only a single elongated member 12 is illustrated in FIG. 2, it should be understood that the elongated member may be one of a plurality of elongated members which are received in the main opening 14.

The elongated member 12 has been illustrated in FIG. 2 as having a circular cross sectional configuration, as viewed in a plane extending perpendicular to a longitudinal central axis of the elongated member. However, it is contemplated that the elongated member 12 may have any desired cross sectional configuration. For example, the elongated member 12 may have a polygonal cross sectional configuration.

The retainer 10 (FIG. 1) comprises one piece and not separate pieces secured together. The retainer 10 is integrally formed of one piece of molded polymeric material. However, it is contemplated that the retainer 10 may be formed of a plurality of pieces which are interconnected. If desired, at least a portion of the retainer 10 may be formed of metal.

The retainer 10 includes a base 20. The base 20 includes a connector portion 22 which extends between right and left (as viewed in FIG. 1) side portions 24 and 26. The side portions 24 and 26 cooperate with the connector portion 22 to at least partially define the main opening 14 in the retainer 10. Although the base 20 is formed as one piece, it is contemplated that the base may be formed of a plurality of pieces which are interconnected.

A first or right arm 30 extends from the right side portion 24. The right arm 30 extends downward and inward from the right side portion 24 toward the left side portion 26 and the connector portion 22 of the base 20. Similarly, a second or left arm 32 extends from the left side portion 26. The left arm 32 extends downward and inward from the left side portion 26 toward the right side portion 24 and connector portion 22 of the base 20.

The right arm 30 extends inwardly and downwardly from an upper (as viewed in FIGS. 1-4) end of the right side portion 24 at an acute angle. Similarly the left arm 32 extends inwardly and downwardly from an upper end of the left side portion 26 at an acute angle. However, if desired, the left and/or right arms 30 and 32 may extend perpendicular to or at an obtuse angle to the side portions 24 and/or 26.

It should be understood that the retainer 10 may have an orientation other than the orientation illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. For example, rather than extending upward, the right and left side portions 24 and 26 of the retainer 20 may extend downward from the connector portion 22. Alternatively, the connector portion 22 may be oriented so that the right and left side portions 24 and 26 extend horizontally from the connector portion.

A fastening or mounting portion (not shown) may be connected with and extend downward (as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2) from the connector portion 22. The fastening or mounting portion may have any desired construction, such as a construction similar to an expansion rivet or threaded fastener. Alternatively, the fastening or mounting portion may be formed by a layer of adhesive. Regardless of how it is constructed, the fastening or mounting portion is used to secure the retainer 10 to a support structure with the retainer in any desired orientation relative to the support structure.

When the elongated member 12 (FIG. 2) is to be held by the retainer 10, the elongated member is moved from a disengaged position, illustrated schematically in dashed lines in FIG. 2, to an engaged position, illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 2. As the elongated member 12 is moved downward from the disengaged position toward the engaged position, a lower portion of the elongated member 12 moves into engagement with upper side surfaces 34 and 36 on the right and left arms 30 and 32.

Continued downward (as viewed in FIG. 2) movement of the elongated member 12 toward the connector portion 22 results in the transmission of force from the elongated member 12 to the upper side surfaces 34 and 36 on the arms 30 and 32. As this occurs, the right arm 30 is resiliently deflected toward the right side portion 24 of the base 20. Similarly, the left arm 32 is resiliently deflected toward the left side portion 26 of the base 20. As the arms 30 and 32 are resiliently deflected by movement of the elongated member 12 from the disengaged position into the main opening 14, the retainer 10 is resiliently flexed at connections 40 and 42 between the arms 30 and 32 and the side portions 24 and 26. In addition, the arms 30 and 32 are, themselves, resiliently flexed.

As the elongated member 12 continues to be moved downward (as viewed in FIG. 2) from the disengaged position to the engaged position, the elongated member 12 moves out of engagement with the arms 30 and 32 and into engagement with the connector portion 22 of the base 20. As this occurs, the arms 30 and 32 resiliently move back to their initial or relaxed positions illustrated in FIG. 2. At this time, an end portion 46 of the right arm 30 is spaced a substantial distance from an upper portion of an outer side surface 48 of the elongated member 12. An end portion 50 of the left arm 32 is also spaced from the outer side surface 48 of the elongated member 12. The end portions 46 and 50 of the left and right arms 30 and 32 are also spaced apart from each other.

When the elongated member 12 is in the engaged position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, the left arm 32 extends more than half way across the elongated member 12. This results in the end portion 50 of the left arm 32 being closer to the right side portion 24 of the base 20 than to the left side portion 26. The left arm 32 is longer than the right arm 30 so that end portion 46 of the right arm 30 is disposed above and spaced apart from the end portion 50 of the left arm 32.

When the elongated member 12 is in the engaged position illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 2, the outer side surface 48 of the elongated member engages an arcuate upwardly facing side surface 54 of the connector portion 22. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2, the side surface 54 is provided with an arcuate connector section 56 having a radius of curvature which is smaller than a radius of curvature of an outer side surface 48 of the elongated member 12. The arcuate connector section 56 has a center of curvature which is disposed on an axis which extends through the main opening 14 and is parallel to a central axis of the elongated member 12.

Since the connector section 56 of the side surface 54 has a radius of curvature which is smaller than the radius of curvature of the outer side surface 48 of the elongated member 12, the outer side surface 48 of the elongated member 12 moves into wedging engagement with flat side sections 60 and 62 of the side surface 54. The flat side sections 60 and 62 extend transverse to each other. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the flat side sections 60 and 62 extend at an acute angle relative to each other. However, if desired, the angle between the flat surfaces of the side sections 60 and 62 may be larger than an acute angle.

Wedging engagement of the elongated member 12 with the flat side sections 60 and 62 of the side surface 54 on the connector portion 22 of the base 20 holds the elongated member 12 against movement relative to the retainer 10. This tends to minimize noise upon vibrational movement of a support structure to which the retainer 10 is connected and/or upon the occurrence of the application of vibrational forces to the elongated member 12. It is contemplated that in certain environments, wedging engagement of the elongated member 12 with the flat side sections 60 and 62 may not be desirable and may be omitted.

Although the side surface 54 on the connector portion 22 has been illustrated in FIG. 2 as having an arcuate connector section 56 and flat side sections 60 and 62, it is contemplated that the side surface 54 of the connector portion 22 may have a different configuration if desired. For example, the arcuate connector section of the side surface 54 may have an arc of curvature which is the same as the arc of curvature of the outer side surface 48 of the elongated member 12. This would result in a lower portion of the outer side surface 48 of the elongated member 12 engaging the connector section 56 of the side surface 54. Alternatively, the connector section 56 of the side surface 54 may have an arc of curvature which is larger than the arc of curvature of the outer side surface 48 of the elongated member 12.

Although the side surface 54 has been illustrated in FIG. 2 as having a generally U-shaped configuration, it is contemplated that the side surface 54 may have a different configuration. For example, the side surface 54 may be formed by a plurality of straight flat sections so that the side surface has a polygonal cross sectional configuration as viewed in FIG. 2.

In accordance with one of the features of the present invention, the arms 30 and 32 are moved into latching engagement with each other, under the influence of force transmitted from the elongated member 12, upon movement of the elongated member away from the connector portion 22 of the base 20. When a force 64 (FIG. 3) is applied to the elongated member 12 to move it upward (as viewed in FIG. 2) from the engaged position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, toward the disengaged position, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2, the outer side surface 48 of the elongated member engages the end portion 50 of the left arm 32.

Continued upward movement of the elongated member 12 resiliently deflects the left arm 32 upwardly (as viewed in FIG. 2) under the influence of force transmitted from the elongated member 12. As this occurs, the left arm 32 tends to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about the connection 42 with the left side portion 26. At the same time, the outer end portion 50 of the left arm 32 approaches the outer end portion 46 of the right arm 30.

As the end portion 50 of the left arm 32 moves into engagement with the end portion 46 of the right arm 30, the end portions 46 and 50 of the right and left arms 30 and 32 are interconnected with a latching action (FIG. 3). When the arms 30 and 32 are in latching engagement, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3, the arms block continued movement of the elongated member 12 away from the connector portion 22 of the base 20. This results in the elongated member 12 being held in the main opening 14 in the retainer 10.

The elongated member 12 has been illustrated schematically as moving straight upward away (as viewed in FIG. 2) from the connector portion 22 of the base 20. However, it is contemplated that the elongated member 12 may be cammed sidewardly by engagement of the outer side surface 48 of the elongated member 12 with one or more of the arms 30 and 32. For example, the elongated member 12 may be cammed or deflected toward the left (as viewed in FIG. 3) by engagement with a lower side surface 66 of the left arm 32. Although the right arm 30 is shorter than the left arm 32, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, it is contemplated that the right arm may have sufficient length so that it can be effective to cam or deflect the elongated member 12 toward the right as viewed in FIG. 3 as the elongated member moves away from the connector portion 22 of the base 20.

Latching engagement of the arms 30 and 32 can be obtained in different ways. However, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, latching engagement is obtained by a hook and window type connection 70. In this specific embodiment of the invention, the right arm 30 is provided with a hook or projection 74 which engages an opening or window 76 (FIGS. 1 and 3) formed in the left arm 32. When the hook 74 extends through the opening 76, in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the end portions 46 and 50 of the arms 30 and 32 are interconnected and held against movement relative to each other.

To obtain latching engagement between the right and left arms 30 and 32, the elongated member 12 moves the end portion 50 of the left arm 32 upward (as viewed in FIG. 2). As this occurs, a lower end portion of the hook 74 moves into the opening 76 (FIGS. 1 and 3) in the left arm. Continued upward movement of the elongated member 12 presses the end portion 50 of the left arm 32 against the hook 74 while the hook extends through the opening 76 (see FIG. 3).

When there is latching engagement of the arms 30 and 32, the end portion 46 of the right arm 30 is disposed in engagement with the end portion 50 of the left arm 32. The end portion 50 of the left arm 32 is disposed beneath the end portion 46 of the right arm (FIG. 3) so that when the force 80 urges the elongated member 12 to move upward away from the connector portion 22 of the base 20, the outer side surface 48 on the elongated member 12 applies force against the end portion 50 of the left arm 32. The force applied against the end portion 50 of the left arm 32 is transmitted to the end portion 46 of the relatively short right arm 30.

The end portion 46 of the right arm 30 extends downward toward the connector portion 22 and is generally parallel to the right side portion 24 of the base 20. Therefore, the right arm 30 is not easily deflected from the position illustrated in FIG. 3 by the transmission of force from the end portion 50 of the left arm 32 to the end portion 46 of the right arm 30. The transmission of force from the outer side surface 48 of the elongated member 12 to the end portion 50 of the left arm 32 urges the end portion 50 of the left arm into engagement with the hook 74 on the right arm 30.

When the arms 30 and 32 are fastened together, an arcuate end surface 78 on the end portion 50 of the left arm 32 engages the outer side surface 48 of the elongated member (FIG. 4). An arcuate end surface 80 on the right arm 30 engages the upper side surface 36 on the left arm 32. Therefore force is transmitted from the outer side surface 48 of the elongated member 12 to the end surface 50 on the left arm 32. This force is transmitted from the upper side surface 36 of the left arm 32 to the end surface 80 on the right arm 30. Engagement of the hook 74 with the opening 76 (FIG. 3) in the left arm 32 holds the end portions 46 and 50 of the arms 30 and 32 against relative movement under the influence of the force transmitted from the elongated member 12.

The upward force 64 (FIG. 3) which is applied to the elongated member 12 presses the elongated member against the lower side surface 66 of the left arm 32. Since the left arm 32 is skewed at an acute angle relative to a vertical plane and to the left side portion 26 of the base 20, the interaction between the outer side surface 48 on the elongated member 12 and the left arm 32 tends to cause the elongated member to move toward the left (as viewed in FIG. 3). As this occurs, the outer side surface 48 on the elongated member 12 will slide along the lower side surface 66 of the left arm 32 toward the left side portion 26 of the base 20. This results in the elongated member 12 moving into the space between the lower side surface 66 on the left arm 32 and the left side portion 26 of the base 20.

When the upward force 64 on the elongated member 12 is interrupted, the elongated member 12 moves back downward into engagement with the side surface 54 of the connector portion 22 and the base 20. As this occurs, the left arm 32 resiliently swings in a clockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 3 back to the position shown in FIG. 2. As the end portion 50 of the left arm 32 moves downward (as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3) with the elongated member 12, the hook 74 becomes disengaged from the opening 76 in the end portion 50 of the left arm 32. The arms 30 and 32 then return to the positions shown in FIG. 2.

The hook 74 has been illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 as being disposed on the end portion 46 of the right arm 30. Similarly, the opening 76 has been illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 as being disposed on the end portion 50 of the left arm 32. It is contemplated that the hook 74 may be provided on the left arm 32 and the opening 76 may be provided in the right arm 34.

The arms 30 and 32 have been illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 as having different lengths. Thus, the right arm 30 is shorter than the left arm 32. This enables the left arm 32 to extend across a longitudinal central axis of the elongated member 12 to facilitate upward movement of the opening 76 in the left arm into engagement with a hook 74. If desired, the right arm 30 may be longer than the left arm 32.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the hook 74 is provided on the end portion 46 of the right arm 30. If desired, the hook 74 may be eliminated and the end portion 46 of the right arm shaped to engage the opening 76 in the left arm 32. For example, a tang or projection having a width which is slightly smaller than the width of the opening 76 may be provided on the end portion 46 of the right arm 30. If this was done, the right arm 30 may be provided with a straight configuration rather than the nonlinear configuration illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

When the elongated member 12 is to be removed from the main opening 14 in the retainer 10, a suitable tool 88 (FIG. 5) is utilized. The tool 88 applies force against the left arm 32 while the elongated member 12 is in engagement with the side surface 54 on the connector portion 22 (see FIG. 5). The force applied against the left arm 32 by the tool 88 deflects the left arm toward the left side portion 26 of the base 20. Once the end surface 78 on the end portion 50 of the left arm 32 has moved from the right (as viewed in FIG. 5) side of a vertical plane containing the central axis of the elongated member 12 to the left side of the vertical plane containing the central axis of the elongated member, the elongated member can be moved upwardly (as viewed in FIG. 5). As this occurs, the left arm 50 is further deflected toward the left side portion 26 of the base 20. The elongated member 12 can then be moved through the space between the left arm 32 and the right arm 30. Depending upon the diameter of the elongated member 12, the right arm 30 may be resiliently deflected by the elongated member as it moves out of the opening 14.

From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims. 

1. A retainer for receiving and holding an elongated member that extends through said retainer comprising: a base, first and second arms, said base and said first and second arms comprising one-piece and not separate pieces secured together, said first and second arms having end portions which are spaced apart from each other when the elongated member extends through the retainer, said end portion of said first arm being movable under the influence of force transmitted from the elongated member to effect location of said end portion of said first arm in an opening formed in said end portion of said second arm upon movement of the elongated member in a direction out of the retainer to block movement of the elongated member from the retainer.
 2. A retainer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said end portion of said second arm has a surface which is engaged by the elongated member to move the opening formed in said end portion of said second arm toward said end portion of said first arm upon movement of the elongated member away from said connector portion of said base.
 3. A retainer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said end portion of said first arm has a first portion which enters the opening in said second arm upon movement of the elongated member away from said connector portion of said base and a second portion which engages a side of said second arm at a location spaced from the elongated member upon movement of said second arm away from said connector portion of said base.
 4. A retainer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said connector portion of said base has an arcuate surface which is engagable by the elongated member, said arcuate surface having a center of curvature which is disposed on an axis which extends through the opening which receives the elongated member.
 5. A retainer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said end portion of said second arm has a first surface area which engages the elongated member upon movement of the elongated member away from said connector portion of said base, said end portion of said first arm has a second surface area which engages said second arm upon movement of the elongated member away from said connector portion of said base, said first surface area on said end portion of said second arm being disposed closer to said connector portion of said base than said second surface area on said end portion of said first arm upon movement of the elongated member away from said connector portion of said base.
 6. A retainer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first arm is integrally formed as one piece with and is skewed at a first acute angle relative to a first one of said side portions of said base when the elongated member is disposed in engagement with said connector portion of said base, said second arm is integrally formed as one piece with and is skewed at a second acute angle relative to a second one of said side portions of said base when the elongated member is disposed in engagement with said connector portion of said base.
 7. A retainer as set forth in claim 1 wherein a first one of said first and second arms is longer than a second one of said first and second arms and has an inner side surface which extends more than half way across and is engaged by the elongated member upon movement of the elongated member away from the connector portion of said base, said inner side surface of said first one of said first and second arms being skewed at an acute angle to relative to the path of movement of the elongated member away from the connector portion of said base to enable said inner side surface of said first one of said first and second arms to deflect movement of the elongated member toward one of the side portions of said base as the elongated member moves away from said connector portion of said base.
 8. A retainer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base and said first and second arms are integrally formed by a single piece of polymeric material.
 9. A retainer for holding an elongated member, said retainer comprising: a base having side portions and a connector portion which extends between said side portions, said connector portion at least partially defines an opening which receives the elongated member, a first arm which extends from one of said side portions of said base, and a second arm which extends from another one of said side portions of said base, said first and second arms having end portions which are spaced apart from each other when the elongated member extends through the opening in said base and is disposed in engagement with said connector portion of said base, at least one of said end portions of said first and second arms being movable away from said connector portion of said base under the influence of force transmitted from the elongated member to effect engagement of said end portion of said first arm with an opening formed in said end portion of said second arm upon movement of the elongated member away from said connector portion of said base.
 10. A retainer as set forth in claim 9 wherein said end portion of said second arm has a surface which is engaged by the elongated member to move the opening formed in said end portion of said second arm toward said end portion of said first arm upon movement of the elongated member away from said connector portion of said base.
 11. A retainer as set forth in claim 9 wherein said end portion of said first arm has a first portion which enters the opening in said second arm upon movement of the elongated member away from said connector portion of said base and a second portion which engages a side of said second arm at a location spaced from the elongated member upon movement of said second arm away from said connector portion of said base.
 12. A retainer as set forth in claim 9 wherein said connector portion of said base has an arcuate surface which is engagable by the elongated member, said arcuate surface having a center of curvature which is disposed on an axis which extends through the opening which receives the elongated member.
 13. A retainer as set forth in claim 9 wherein said end portion of said second arm has a first surface area which engages the elongated member upon movement of the elongated member away from said connector portion of said base, said end portion of said first arm has a second surface area which engages said second arm upon movement of the elongated member away from said connector portion of said base, said first surface area on said end portion of said second arm being disposed closer to said connector portion of said base than said second surface area on said end portion of said first arm upon movement of the elongated member away from said connector portion of said base.
 14. A retainer as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first arm is integrally formed as one piece with and is skewed at a first acute angle relative to a first one of said side portions of said base when the elongated member is disposed in engagement with said connector portion of said base, said second arm is integrally formed as one piece with and is skewed at a second acute angle relative to a second one of said side portions of said base when the elongated member is disposed in engagement with said connector portion of said base.
 15. A retainer as set forth in claim 9 wherein a first one of said first and second arms is longer than a second one of said first and second arms and has an inner side surface which extends more than half way across and is engaged by the elongated member upon movement of the elongated member away from the connector portion of said base, said inner side surface of said first one of said first and second arms being skewed at an acute angle to relative to the path of movement of the elongated member away from the connector portion of said base to enable said inner side surface of said first one of said first and second arms to deflect movement of the elongated member toward one of the side portions of said base as the elongated member moves away from said connector portion of said base.
 16. A retainer as set forth in claim 9 wherein said base and said first and second arms are integrally formed by a single piece of polymeric material. 